Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia are all deeply indebted to Washington which in turns exerts considerable influence within their systems. In other words they are client states - Kosovo being more akin to satrapy. This gas deal is a case of reciprocity. It's wanted in Washington and Wall Street, which creates political pressure in these countries. The people who implement it locally (often connected to if not sponsored by American institutions and interests) will in turn profit from it as well. Everyone in the circle is happy, but in this case it's an issue that is not a private business deal with limited impact but one that profoundly affects society at large and from the standpoint of Brussels - the entire European Union will be impacted.
For its part, the US would be thrilled at the prospect of these Balkan states being 'locked in' or 'addicted' to American supply. The Americans will probably even provide loans or help with the infrastructure - just like they did next door in Croatia. Why wouldn't they? It's in their interest to do so. The loans more likely than not will end up paying American contractors or benefitting American banks and investors who get in on the deal.
The fact that there's some personal corruption and conflict of interest issues connected to Trump is par for the course at this point. As long as Mike Johnson is in charge of the House, nothing will be done. Corrupt and derelict in his basic duties, the professing Evangelical has no concern for the requirements of his office, the principle of government, law, or anything at all in terms of morality or integrity. He has been the primary facilitator of Trump's corruption thus far by completely abandoning any concept of accountability, oversight, checks and balances, or a willingness to utilize the House's means to conduct investigations and control the purse. He is subservient, sycophantic, and lacking in any kind of courage, conviction, or principle. Even with his smug grin, he will deservedly be remembered as one of the worst and most inept House Speakers in US history.
Returning to the gas issue, this episode reminds us that the tensions between Washington and the EU (which emerged in the 1990's) have never gone away - and the cracks are growing into chasms under Trump. For a time it was expedient for the Americans to set aside the competition and rivalry and rekindle Atlanticism and strengthen NATO. Biden proved successful to this end, but his tenure was too short and Trump quickly dismantled everything he accomplished.
In other words, the Trump administration's move in the Balkans is an act of deliberate defiance and disregard - an obscene gesture (as it were) directed at Brussels.
If Washington wants to really make Brussels mad and do some serious damage to EU-US relations, they'll start selling to Serbia - and there are already whispers of it in the wind.
See also:
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2021/03/obedient-croatia-and-lng-terminal-on.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2022/12/croatia-rewarded-lng-deals-and-schengen.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2020/11/cold-war-ii-battle-for-bulgaria-and.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.